title: Influence of biological, environmental and technical factors on phenolic content and antioxidant activities of Tunisian halophytes.
abstract: Halophyte ability to withstand salt-triggered oxidative stress is governed by multiple biochemical mechanisms that facilitate retention and/or acquisition of water, protect chloroplast functioning, and maintain ion homeostasis. Most essential traits include the synthesis of osmolytes, specific proteins, and antioxidant molecules. This might explain the utilization of some halophytes as traditional medicinal and dietary plants. The present study aimed at assessing the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of some Tunisian halophytes (Cakile maritima, Limoniastrum monopetalum, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, M. edule, Salsola kali, and Tamarix gallica), depending on biological (species, organ and developmental stage), environmental, and technical (extraction solvent) factors. The total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities (DPPH and superoxide radicals scavenging activities, and iron chelating and reducing powers) were strongly affected by the above-cited factors. Such variability might be of great importance in terms of valorising these halophytes as a source of naturally secondary metabolites, and the methods for phenolic and antioxidant production.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'adaptation des plantes aux stress abiotiques, centre de biotechnologie à la technopole de Borj-Cédria (CBBC), 2050 Hammam-lif, Tunisia. physiologiste@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ksouri
authors.forename: Wided
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Megdiche
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Falleh
authors.forename: Nejla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trabelsi
authors.forename: Mondher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boulaaba
authors.forename: Abderrazak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smaoui
authors.forename: Chedly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abdelly
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D035723:Mesembryanthemum / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000378:metabolism; D029606:Plumbaginaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D059808:Polyphenols; D031248:Salsola / Q000378:metabolism; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010940:Plant Proteins; D059808:Polyphenols; D007501:Iron